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Musings on Tool Sets (Apologies to Arch)

Another of those evergreen discussions on whether it is better for a new turner to purchase a set or "the best tools you can afford" one at a time has begun.

Now I'm not one for conspiracy theories, so I really don't believe that sets are made up of the _least_ popular tools to solve a manufacturer's overstock problem. I'm also convinced, given the number of sizes, grinds, lengths and alloys out there, that there cannot be an absolute "best" in any of those categories, or we'd all get it at whatever the price. It's our hobby after all, or for some their livelihood, and hang the expense.

May I request a show of hands of all who use _every_ tool in their collection, and equally?

All of you liars who raised your hands may sit down - we're interested in honest responses. If you have more than one exemplar, you have a favorite, and the second languishes on the shelf. Or, perhaps you do as I have done, and regrind the profile on that second-best for another job. Pointy gouges for hollowing come easily to my mind.

Now how many honest responders think there's a set of tools for spindle turning and a set for bowl turning, and no crossover?

Good, everyone realizes that parting tools, scrapers, gouges, and even skews don't care if the wood they're working is between centers or not. I'll go one further, and admit that I have used my beading tool, a double-ground, half inch non-skew ground tool to turn the edges of bowls or put the odd decorative bead on them. I am even one of those fools who uses a roughing gouge to clear away unwanted wood from the convex outer profile. One thing I have seldom done is use a bowl gouge or ring tool on spindle work, but they're rarely included in sets. So, if every tool included in the average set, and a couple which are not, can work both between centers and off a faceplate/chuck ... why not buy a set?

Certainly other considerations enter. How many felt competent and confident of their ability to touch their expensive gouge to that whirring grinding wheel when they were beginning? No trepidation?

Thought I told you liars to keep out of this! A little too heavy or long on the wheel, and your sixty-dollar tool is toast. Or at least a lot shorter by the time you try to replicate the original grind. Makes that inexpensive set look a lot more economical than "the best," now doesn't it. Less invested means less to lose ... so why not buy cheap?

I have never mastered a tool I didn't own, though I have used others' for demonstrations. Makes me glad I got the widest variety of tools I could afford to experiment on while developing my skills, even though that diamond point scraper had to have been the most useless tool in the shop until I reground it to a beading tool. I'M GLAD I BOUGHT A SET, it encouraged me to experiment and grow. Unless you have constant access to a large number of other people's tools, I'd advise all of you beginners to do likewise.

Reply to
George
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First thing, not all sets are created equal. The set that came along with the used lathe I got was a craftsman set. The only tools out of it I still use are the left and right scrappers.

As far as tools for spindles and face work, I tend to mix them around. I use a large spindle gouge (5/8" bar) for roughing bowls, but a bowl gouge with a swept back edge for much of my spindle roughing. I never use skew on face work, but I do use a spindle gouge to do beads on cutting boards and trivets.

I do the vast majority of my bowl work with the above mentioned spindle gouge, a bowl gouge (1/2" or 5/8" bar stock), a large bowl scrapper, and my left and right hand scrappers. The left and right are for forming the tenons and shear cutting. For a beginner, they could do without the spindle gouge.

As far as sharpening my expensive tools when I was a beginner, I was fairly pragmatic about it. I knew they wouldn't last forever, so I just got to grinding.

I teach classes fairly often and I would rather have my students get the right tools for what they are learning than to get a set with tools that are a compromise. I haven't seen a full sized set that I could reccomend. I have seen some small, pen oriented sets that were fine.

Reply to
Rusty Myers

Well, the teacher decides, of course :-) Actually, when I teach at Woodcraft I try not to push any tools on students and encourage them to use mine and any that they have brought with them. That way they can decide at the end of the class whether to spend any money. The only time I have done it different was my last bowl class. We had six students, which is more than I usually allow. Since we didn't have enough bowl gouges to go around, I asked how many had planned to buy a tool. Since several said yes, I did my discussion of bowl gouges first, then they bought, we ground them, then they got to use their tools. Actually went quite well. But for most of my classes I want them to learn more and spend money only if the want to. Hope the manager at my Woodcraft doesn't see this...

As for "V" grooves, I tend to use the point on either my left or right handed scrappers, or a spear point I have. You are right that those would be possible cuts with the skew though.

Reply to
Rusty Myers

Hi George, just as I was about to nominate you for COC younger division, you have to go and spoil your chances by an apology. "Musing" is in the public domain, otherwise your subject would be actionable. Worst of all, I agree with most of what you write but of course, not all.

When you get another cheap diamond scraper, lengthen the bevels and lessen the cutting angles. That will get you into places you didn't think possible or maybe shouldn't go.

I agree about the separation of bowl and spindle, but there is a third set: the group that we collect because they are very cheap or very expensive or their virtues are extolled to the nines. Most have never known a grinder and certainly not a lathe. This set is strictly for discussing, caressing and passing back & forth from hand to hand just before dozing off while watching a woodturning tape rerun. Safety caution: be sure to wear shoes.

I got carried away once and bought a gouge that cost more than my first car. I expected the wonder to turn me into an expert, so I introduced it to my lathe and sat down to watch. It must have felt itself superior to my lathe. Damn thing wouldn't turn anything by itself. I over reacted and on the rebound bought a set of eight H.F. tools for eight dollars and thirty seven cents plus shipping and handling. I tell inquiring minds that they are for use on the pole lathe that I plan to build some day. Never mind about my bargain sandpaper. The sand on Far Eastern beaches must be softer than on ours. Their HSS steel is very circumspect though: stays well below the speed limit.

I agree that there is no conspiracy to get rid of unsold tools. They are included as blanks for reshaping purposes, and are probably a better bargain than steel bar.

OK, I'll dissemble from COC and am embarrassed to admit that I really liked your "I have never mastered a tool I didn't own" That says a lot. So much for musing. Arch

Fortiter,

Reply to
Arch

Thanks for the well written input. I will go out and buy a set that is not too expensive and experiment, then I will replace with top quality tools.

Blair

Reply to
Blair

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